The Hawks, just
5:10:24 PM Wed 23 April, 2003
Rodney Eade
afl.com.au
This game will give everybody an indication of where both the Hawks and Tigers are at.
The Tigers embark on a tough five-week stretch starting with the Hawks and after a disappointing start, have lifted themselves with three solid wins, albeit against struggling teams. To win these games without Brad Ottens, Ben Holland and at times, Matthew Richardson, will give the group a great deal of confidence.
Hawthorn has been heavily scrutinized in the media, but like Richmond, has played just one bad game. The Hawks have been missing five or six key players and will welcome the return of Nathan Thompson. Not much will be expected of him but his height will help ease the load on Peter Everitt and Jade Rawlings.
The Hawks rely on hard-running, obviously led by Shane Crawford and must maintain their intensity and pressure on the opposition for four quarters.
The Tigers seem to have more structure in their side of late and the improvement in young midfielders such as Mark Coughlan, David Rodan and Tim Fleming has eased concerns over their slow midfield.
Game Plan: Both sides like to have extra numbers in defence.
The Hawks use it to generate run and will use handball in an attempt to release a ‘free’ runner, while the Tigers do so in order to restrict the opposition scoring.
More than most opponents, the Tigers will regularly flood, and through Kane Johnston – a very good acquisition – and Coughlan, they are winning a great deal more hard balls. This then enables Mark Chaffey, Greg Tivendale, Aaron Fiora and Joel Bowden to run forward with more confidence.
Hawthorn must match the Tigers in tight, but with Thompson back, will have an array of tall forwards to catch the Tigers out. Greg Stafford and Ray Hall will camp in defence to help out their teammates.
What the coaches will be thinking: Peter Schwab’s main thoughts will be around Richardson, Bowden and Wayne Campbell and how to gain an advantage around stoppages.
Jonathan Hay is the obvious choice for Richardson, Angelo Lekkas could take Campbell and Rayden Tallis be left for Coughlan. Tallis could also play on Bowden, but Bowden’s height advantage could be a problem – especially if he goes forward.
Campbell Brown is another option for Bowden, although Schwab may consider having one player for Bowden in the midfield, such as Tallis, and another for him in defence such as Brown or Ben Dixon.
Peter Everitt is crucial for Hawthorn’s success. His ruckwork and mobility around the ground will concern Danny Frawley. Perhaps Stafford can do ruckwork, with Ray Hall being the designated “run-with” player.
Schwab will also pay attention to Chaffey’s run out of defence and the free-wheeling play of Fiora and Tivendale, so expect those two to be targeted with constant pressure.
When David Loats rucks, probably against Stafford, Frawley will be faced with three tall Hawthorn forwards. Rawlings will be shadowed by Andy Kellaway, but will have a height and athleticism advantage. Darren Gaspar will take Thompson, which leaves Everitt and it would not surprise if Royce Vardy was handed that challenge, or perhaps Hall.
Frawley, like every coach, will give some thought to curbing Shane Crawford and he as two options. One is to place his best player and captain – Campbell – on him in an attempt to wear him down. Personally, with the leadership and form shown by Campbell, I would opt with him because he can match Crawford’s run as well as being able to run off him and set up the Tiger play.
The other is to rotate two or three taggers on Crawford, perhaps a combination of Matthew Rogers, Rodan and even Clinton King back from the VFL.
X-Factor: Both teams have players with a great deal of talent, but who do not display it consistently. For these sides to play in the finals, these players need to play well week in and week out.
Bowden is the main one with extreme talent who needs to follow his captain’s lead. He can win games on his own but needs to work harder when things aren’t going well.
Joel Smith is a player the Hawks need running out of defence and setting up the play. At times, his work rate drops below acceptable and he struggles fitness-wise if the opposition takes him into the midfield.
Daniel Harford and Rory Hilton both have had many injuries, but have now played enough football to produce consistently.
The ultimate ‘x-factor’ player for Hawthorn is Tallis, who is not very fashionable but a complete opposite to the previous four players. He works hard consistently, and his form of late is the best of his career. He is getting under the guard of the opposition and must be paid some respect.
The Verdict: This looms as a very tight game. Both teams will be confident and aggressive. Everitt could be the key to the result with his ruckwork and ability to kick goals. The Tigers have improved their run but still might not match the Hawks in this area, particularly after just a five-day break and having played at Telstra Dome on Monday. With Thompson back, Rawlings in good form and Hay able to hold Richardson, the Hawks should win a close one by seven points.
5:10:24 PM Wed 23 April, 2003
Rodney Eade
afl.com.au
This game will give everybody an indication of where both the Hawks and Tigers are at.
The Tigers embark on a tough five-week stretch starting with the Hawks and after a disappointing start, have lifted themselves with three solid wins, albeit against struggling teams. To win these games without Brad Ottens, Ben Holland and at times, Matthew Richardson, will give the group a great deal of confidence.
Hawthorn has been heavily scrutinized in the media, but like Richmond, has played just one bad game. The Hawks have been missing five or six key players and will welcome the return of Nathan Thompson. Not much will be expected of him but his height will help ease the load on Peter Everitt and Jade Rawlings.
The Hawks rely on hard-running, obviously led by Shane Crawford and must maintain their intensity and pressure on the opposition for four quarters.
The Tigers seem to have more structure in their side of late and the improvement in young midfielders such as Mark Coughlan, David Rodan and Tim Fleming has eased concerns over their slow midfield.
Game Plan: Both sides like to have extra numbers in defence.
The Hawks use it to generate run and will use handball in an attempt to release a ‘free’ runner, while the Tigers do so in order to restrict the opposition scoring.
More than most opponents, the Tigers will regularly flood, and through Kane Johnston – a very good acquisition – and Coughlan, they are winning a great deal more hard balls. This then enables Mark Chaffey, Greg Tivendale, Aaron Fiora and Joel Bowden to run forward with more confidence.
Hawthorn must match the Tigers in tight, but with Thompson back, will have an array of tall forwards to catch the Tigers out. Greg Stafford and Ray Hall will camp in defence to help out their teammates.
What the coaches will be thinking: Peter Schwab’s main thoughts will be around Richardson, Bowden and Wayne Campbell and how to gain an advantage around stoppages.
Jonathan Hay is the obvious choice for Richardson, Angelo Lekkas could take Campbell and Rayden Tallis be left for Coughlan. Tallis could also play on Bowden, but Bowden’s height advantage could be a problem – especially if he goes forward.
Campbell Brown is another option for Bowden, although Schwab may consider having one player for Bowden in the midfield, such as Tallis, and another for him in defence such as Brown or Ben Dixon.
Peter Everitt is crucial for Hawthorn’s success. His ruckwork and mobility around the ground will concern Danny Frawley. Perhaps Stafford can do ruckwork, with Ray Hall being the designated “run-with” player.
Schwab will also pay attention to Chaffey’s run out of defence and the free-wheeling play of Fiora and Tivendale, so expect those two to be targeted with constant pressure.
When David Loats rucks, probably against Stafford, Frawley will be faced with three tall Hawthorn forwards. Rawlings will be shadowed by Andy Kellaway, but will have a height and athleticism advantage. Darren Gaspar will take Thompson, which leaves Everitt and it would not surprise if Royce Vardy was handed that challenge, or perhaps Hall.
Frawley, like every coach, will give some thought to curbing Shane Crawford and he as two options. One is to place his best player and captain – Campbell – on him in an attempt to wear him down. Personally, with the leadership and form shown by Campbell, I would opt with him because he can match Crawford’s run as well as being able to run off him and set up the Tiger play.
The other is to rotate two or three taggers on Crawford, perhaps a combination of Matthew Rogers, Rodan and even Clinton King back from the VFL.
X-Factor: Both teams have players with a great deal of talent, but who do not display it consistently. For these sides to play in the finals, these players need to play well week in and week out.
Bowden is the main one with extreme talent who needs to follow his captain’s lead. He can win games on his own but needs to work harder when things aren’t going well.
Joel Smith is a player the Hawks need running out of defence and setting up the play. At times, his work rate drops below acceptable and he struggles fitness-wise if the opposition takes him into the midfield.
Daniel Harford and Rory Hilton both have had many injuries, but have now played enough football to produce consistently.
The ultimate ‘x-factor’ player for Hawthorn is Tallis, who is not very fashionable but a complete opposite to the previous four players. He works hard consistently, and his form of late is the best of his career. He is getting under the guard of the opposition and must be paid some respect.
The Verdict: This looms as a very tight game. Both teams will be confident and aggressive. Everitt could be the key to the result with his ruckwork and ability to kick goals. The Tigers have improved their run but still might not match the Hawks in this area, particularly after just a five-day break and having played at Telstra Dome on Monday. With Thompson back, Rawlings in good form and Hay able to hold Richardson, the Hawks should win a close one by seven points.
